“Just want to share some interesting photos taken in Mai Po Wetland Reserve Hong Kong today.
“A Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) had been sharing the same stand with a Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) peacefully for almost one minute until the second Pied Kingfisher arrived and getting too close for comfort. The two Pied Kingfishers stayed only for a short period of time before flying to the far end of the pond to search for food.
“It is first time we... Read More
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The Birds of Singapore – an online book
In May 1943, GC Madoc published “An Introduction to Malayan Birds.” He wrote his manuscript in Singapore’s Changi Prison where he was interned when the country fell into the...
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Videocam: A powerful tool for studying birds
1. Collecting birds: In the 19th century the equipment needed to study birds was the gun. Another skill necessary was a good stuffing technique in order to preserve the specimens....
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Documenting bird calls and songs
Many local birdwatchers are able to recognise the birds behind the songs. However, interest in most cases ends there except for a few who make basic recordings. Erik Mobrand...
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Should attempts be made to tame wild birds?
The first part of the series by aviculturist Lee Chiu San deals with whether birds can be tamed and whether they will remain tamed. The second part looks at whether it is...
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Postings your observations and images
Why should you post your observations and images? Southeast Asian birds are poorly studied in terms of behaviour and ecology. By posting your observations (and this include...
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Nature Society: The struggle for Singapore’s nature areas
The above paper has just been published. Nature in Singapore is a peer-reviewed, online journal that publishes articles on the flora and fauna (e.g., biology, botany, zoology,...
Common Kingfisher and Pied Kingfisher sharing a single pole
“Just want to share some interesting photos taken in Mai Po Wetland Reserve Hong Kong today.
“A Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) had been sharing the same stand with a Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) peacefully for almost one minute until the second Pied Kingfisher arrived and getting too close for comfort. The two Pied Kingfishers stayed only for a short period of time before flying to the far end of the pond to search for food.
“It is first time we... Read More
Common Kingfisher: Comfort and feeding behaviour
These images of the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) was taken by KM Sim on 29th December 2012 at the Japanese Garden in Jurong.
Note that the kingfisher is in its comfort mode, first scratching its head directly by raising its right foot from under its wing. This method of scratching is typical of terrestrial birds – mainly to preen its head feathers. Usually preening is done with the bill. See HERE in the case of the Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri).... Read More
Pellet casting: Collared Kingfisher and possibly, Banded Woodpecker
Kwong Wai Chong is sharing some pictures of a female Banded Woodpecker (above). “For a few short seconds, it stretched out its neck and gaped with bill wide open (below)”, wrote Wai Chong. ” Was it casting a pellet?”
“Species that have been documented to cast pellets include raptors, bee-eaters, and kingfishers. I suspect that this woodpecker could be casting a pellet, but this cannot be confirmed as the actual action was missed as it turned... Read More
Seven kingfishers…
Kingfishers are fascinating birds. Their colourful plumage and behaviour never fail to attract the attention of wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, like the Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) above. Sometimes you may be attracted to the loud territorial cries of a male kingfisher but most times they can be seen quietly perching on a branch overhanging water, patiently waiting for prey, usually fish, to appear. Once a fish is sighted, the bird plunges down into... Read More
White-throated Kingfisher: Sunning or courtship?
This is a lively exchange between Sun Chong Hong and Daisy O’Neill on the former’s account of a pair of White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) the was videoed on a TV antenna:
30th March 2012, Sun Chong Hong: “There were several days in November last year when I kept hearing the alert/territorial calls of the White-throated Kingfisher, daylong except during the hotter period of the day. The puzzle was answered when I saw a pair of juvenile White-throated... Read More
Ruddy Kingfisher collided onto a glass window
On the morning of 20th October 2012, Adeline aka Merlion Wayfarer had a kingfisher crashed onto her window LINK. The bird landed on the ground, stunned (above left). Soon it moved and flew off, to collide with a wall, dazed (above right). The kingfisher recovered from its second collision and flew off.
“I was unable to ID the bird until I came across the Melinda’s post LINK,” wrote Adeline. It was a Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda), an uncommon passage... Read More
Miscellaneous bird vocalisation 2
This is the second collection of random observations by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS on birdsounds submitted during the past year or so.
1. Everett’s White-eye (Zosterops everetti tahanensis)
Fringe of Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
14th July 2010
“I was with my wife at some new government departments at the outskirts of the city – the authorities are very astute at building large structures at the expense of the jungle. As we left, around... Read More
Collared Kingfisher Bathing in Sea Water
“Kingfishers are known to bathe by plunge-diving into water. So far, all episodes of kingfishers bathing that I have witnessed had occurred only in fresh water. Hence, I was pleasantly surprised to have my first sighting of a Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) bathing in sea water.
“When first spotted, this kingfisher was perching on a rock on the shoreline. Droplets of water were visible on its head and the saturated colour of its plumage gave me a clue... Read More
Banded Kingfisher with Prey
“On our way out of Khao Yai, we came across a group of bird watchers looking at this female Banded Kingfisher (Lacedo pulchella) with prey clamped between her mandibles, so we decided to stop and see further what else is there to observe.
“The first victim was the lizard, after looking around to check if the coast was cleared she promptly flew to the nest hole, a nest that was dug into an abandoned ants’ nest made of mud, about 3 feet in height, 1.5feet in... Read More
White-throated Kingfisher – Urban Jewel
“Visited some of the sites near my home where mal-development has not yet destroyed all of nature. Never tire of watching common birds as they surprise me with their beauty.
‘White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) (young adult) with a beetle prey. Took a long time to process it (repeated toss & re-capture, shaking beak, rubbing on wood, etc) before swallowing.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
7th April 2012
Equipment:... Read More
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